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33.86% Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos / Chapter 796: Willingness

Chapter 796: Willingness

Hearing Asfi suddenly refer to him as 'Darling', while her aura was flaring about chaotically, Vahn resisted the natural urge to sigh and internally vowed to never get wrapped up in things like this in future records. Though he would undoubtedly favor some women along his journey, as it could continue for thousands of years, Vahn never wanted a repeat of what happened in the record of Danmachi. He considered everything that was happening a result of his own childishness and inexperience, the fact that he simply didn't have the heart to watch others suffer.

Since he didn't want to have to link together multiple worlds, nor did he want to build a massive harem that transcended dimensions, Vahn swore that he would be more resolute in the future. Fortunately, it didn't seem like most records were as 'open' to the idea of so many women being involved with one man, nor would have the 'foundation' that had been built by the girls in the Manor to rely on. He would never want to put people he cared about in a situation where they doubted the love he had for them as a result of his inability to get involved with troubled girls. If not for the fact that the girls had established their 'network', and worked so hard to support each other, Vahn knew things would have never reached this point...

While he was thinking about other worlds, Asfi's mind was wholly focused on the moment and, seeing Vahn adopt a thoughtful expression after her address, her heart felt like it was being gripped. She believed he was aware of the fact that they would be officially wed after their vows were completed, even if they didn't have a ceremony. However, though he would be her Husband, Vahn would also be her 'Owner' at the same time. Though he didn't have a reputation for exploiting others, quite the opposite, Asfi had believed he wouldn't be opposed to the form of address. Now, however, she wondered if she had overstepped her boundaries a little...the fact that he had shown no interest in her previously, outside of their first meeting, now weighed even heavier on her heart...

Sensing the change in Asfi, Vahn's distracted mind regained its focus and he habitually smiled while explaining, "Well, I know you don't really have the option to refuse my purchase, so I'll explain something so you're not misunderstanding things. Not many people are aware of this, but I'm actually able to exist as two bodies simultaneously after learning a unique technique. Currently, I'm a little preoccupied with something happening back at the Manor, so please don't misunderstand. How you choose to call me is up to you, but I'd prefer if you simply call me by name, as I will do the same for you...Asfi."

Hearing Vahn's explanation, though it was very hard to believe, Asfi released a sigh of relief. She knew he was a very honest boy and, as it would likely become apparent later, there was no reason for him to lie about such a thing. He may not invite her to live within the Hearth Manor, but there was a good chance she would spend the night there a few times in the future...when this thought crossed her mind, Asfi had to pinch her own thigh to try and stop a blush from reaching her cheeks. She didn't understand it herself, as she actually had an aversion to such activities, but just imagining being under Vahn's 'care' made her heart race...

After Asfi had calmed down, the two exchanged their vows, Vahn promising to do whatever it took to help Asfi achieve her revenge by the means she had chosen, so long as it didn't endanger himself, the people he cared about, or the Alliance. As for Asfi, she pledged herself to serve Vahn in the capacity of a wife and, should he desire the actual status in the future, she would establish him as the King of the Aethiopian Kingdom in the future. Ultimately, though she cared dearly for the well-being of the subjects she had intended to lead, Asfi was willing to compromise even her own integrity for vengeance. The fact that the person she had dedicated herself to was a compassionate and benevolent person like Vahn was a blessing she could never truly express her gratitude for...

As their vows were vocalized, a blood red chain formed between the hearts of Vahn and Asfi as they brought their lips together to finalize the vow. Though Asfi regretted not being able to give her first kiss to Vahn, she did her best to make up for it by accepting his invasive tongue and reciprocating it to the best of her ability. Even if he wanted to push her down on the table right now, the fact that they had already made the vow was enough of a reason for her to accept him willingly. It was infinitely better to be ravished by the man she had sworn herself to than a giant sea monster that would have shamed her grievously before killing her...

Contrary to her mild delusions, Vahn pulled away a few seconds later and smiled gently before reaching out his hand and stroking the side of her face. Asfi felt her heart twist around in her chest as the most flustered feeling she had ever experienced rose up inside of her. Turning her face to the side, Asfi muttered, "You don't have to be so gentle with me...since you'll have to purchase my contract no matter what, I don't mind, regardless of what you want to do with me..." To this, Vahn nodded in understanding and said, "Look at me, Asfi..."

Though she still had a will of her own, for the time being, Asfi found herself unable to refuse Vahn's gentle words and, even though she felt embarrassed to make eye contact with him, turned to meet his gaze. When she saw Vahn's smile soften, Asfi was certain both her heart and stomach had done a flip, surprising her greatly. She didn't know why she was feeling this way as, even though she was determined to do whatever Vahn requested of her, it was only because of her own selfishness, not because she loved him. However, as the reaction of her body and mind were so drastically different from her own expectations, Asfi began having doubts about her actual feelings towards Vahn...

Asfi might not be aware of it, but Vahn knew exactly what she was going through, as he had seen similar reactions a little too often over the last few months. His [Charm] was very effective of members of the opposite sex and, as a result of the vows they had made, Asfi was simply too aware of him to think clearly at the moment. Even if she intended to act out of 'duty' and 'vengeance', Vahn knew those feelings would quickly morph into something else after he took action. Since he would care for her, just like all the girls he had given his favor to, Vahn was confident he could get Asfi to truly love him one day. At the same time, he would allow his affections for her to grow and, by the time the matters in her Kingdom were resolved, Vahn believed she would truly have a place in his heart...

Running his fingers through Asfi's aqua-blue hair, Vahn gently said, "There will undoubtedly be a time for things like that...but there are other pressing matters to attend to right now. I can sense that Pot and Elilly have already gathered almost everyone that was within the Traveler's Inn at this point, and I don't want to make things difficult for you when we explain things later. Since you're my wife now, I will do my best to protect your dignity and never allow you to experience shame brought about by my actions...I like the cool and intelligent you the most, so please don't try to force yourself just to pander to me, okay...?"

Hearing Vahn's kind words, Asfi felt a strange feeling rising in her chest as a hard to suppress moisture began to spread across her eyes. She knew what kind of boy he was, so his words weren't that great a surprise, but the fact that he was saying them in this situation made it hard to hold back the emotions that had been weighing on her heart for the last six years. There were so many things she regretted but, knowing that he would not only shoulder the burdens alongside her, but one day truly liberate her from the burden on her heart...it was a lot to take in. Before he had shown up so suddenly, her biggest concern on her mind had been what to each for lunch this afternoon...things had taken a very sudden turn.

Though she got infinitely close to shedding tears, Asfi managed to keep them bottled up and produce a small smile as she said, "Very well...if that is your wish, I will do my best to meet your expectations. Still, if there is ever anything...I won't refuse you..." This time, Asfi averted her eyes and swallowed audibly, something that caused her to blush as she turned away and brought out her own contract, passing it over to Vahn as she collected herself and explained, "As I'm sure you're aware, my true identity is Asfi Al Andromeda, eldest child of the King of Aethiopia, Cetheus Al Andromeda..."

Since Asfi had already sat down behind her desk, Vahn sat across from her and perused her file, and the contract contained within. It was much the same as the others, with a few stipulations pertaining to Asfi's special circumstances, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. While he was reading over the information, Asfi began recounting her tale, many of the details matching his own speculation of events.

The apparent truth of the matter was that Cassiopeia, Asfi's mother, had been envious of the fact that Asfi was apparently growing to be more beautiful than she was. As a result of her vanity, and the fact that she simply didn't get along with her intelligent daughter, Cassiopeia had hatched a scheme to have Poseidon, known as a vindictive and wrathful god, to deal with her. Since Cassiopeia herself was quite attractive, she managed to earn Poseidon's favor by cheating on Cetheus, who was so beguiled by his wife that he couldn't see the truth of the matter. She then managed to convince Poseidon to help dispose of Asfi in a high profile manner that would cause people the never speak of her daughter in a positive light...

As for the reason why Cassiopeia couldn't outright kill Asfi herself, it was because the latter was the heir to the throne and, even though Catheus was a fool to trust his wife, he still cared deeply for his daughter. He had watched her grow up and groomed her to be a suitable heir, not minding the fact that she wasn't male in the slightest. Cassiopeia, knowing she wouldn't be able to fool him using 'common' methods, had devised a ridiculous scheme that would invite ruin upon her own Kingdom, all so that she could feel personal vindication and proclaim herself as the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom...

The rest of the story was much like what was discovered in Loki's investigation, with the added fact that Cassiopeia had tried to spin things by claiming that she had only said that Asfi was more beautiful than Poseidon's concubines after her daughter had made the claim herself. She tried to make Asfi out to be a vain girl who prided herself as being superior to other people because of her intelligence and looks. She claimed that the only reason she had made such a public announcement of her daughter's 'foolish' words was to show the latter that the people wouldn't be fooled by her ridiculous claim. With this as her justification for why she wouldn't apologize, laying the blame on Asfi to pay for her mistakes, Cassiopeia had openly endeavored to increase the pressure on her husband to dispose of their daughter...

When he heard the full story, Vahn felt like an endless icy abyss had taken root in his mind and, if not for the fact he promised to let Asfi seek a reckoning for herself, he would have gone to the Aethiopian Kingdom to immediately expose the truth of the matter. He couldn't believe that a mother would be so cruel to her own flesh and blood and if Asfi wasn't under a vow that compelled her to speak the truth, Vahn didn't think he would ever believe such a story. The indignation on Asfi's face also emphasized the fact that she had been grievously wronged and, now that they were bound to each other, Vahn would see to it that she had her vengeance in the future. Cassiopeia would face justice and, though he wouldn't pass it himself, he wouldn't mind dragging the vain woman out by her hair in public so that Asfi could deal with her mother personally...

Seeing how angry Vahn was getting on her behalf, Asfi produced a rare smile and said, "In truth, I had never expected to meet anyone that would be able to help my dream become a reality. I'm glad to have met you, Vahn...truly...thank you." If not for the fact they were separated by her desk, Asfi felt like she would have liked to embrace the boy who had just become her husband. She didn't really know how to express herself properly, especially after her own mother had tried to kill her, but she swore to do her best to at least show Vahn a little of her gratitude.

Hearing Asfi's words, Vahn took a deep breath to calm himself and, taking a few minutes to conduct the official transaction, became the 'Owner' of the Hermes Familia. It cost him a little over four-billion Valis, but that was only around a third of his expendable income. His actual finances were far greater than what he kept within his Inventory, as the Alliance actually had a treasury that easily accounted for assets in the trillions of Valis. Though he couldn't exactly liquidate everything himself, the decisions he made could dictate how the Alliance allocated a large portion of its funds with a few simple words.

Once all the contracts were signed, Vahn was feeling a little playful and wanted to lighten the mood a bit so he suddenly said, "Just this once, why don't you give me a quick pirouette so I can get a good look at you~." To accompany his words, Vahn sent a wink towards Asfi who, with a slightly flustered face, immediately spun around with surprising finesse. Since she had taken years of ballroom dance lessons, Asfi's pirouette was executed flawlessly and Vahn couldn't help but swallow a little awkwardly when he saw the contents of her skirt. Even though he hadn't looked directly, it was almost impossible for such things to escape his sight since they would be imprinted in his head perfectly...

Asfi, seeing Vahn's stupified expression, covered the front of her skirt in a sheepish manner and asked, "Did you see...?" in a somewhat icy tone. Vahn felt a little guilty for his prank but still nodded his head in the most casual manner he could manage, saying, "They suit you...very mature." Hearing this, Asfi took in a deep breath with clear frustration on her face and, just as Vahn thought she was going to contradict herself and start yelling at him, he nearly fell flat on his butt when she instead lifted her skirt, saying, "If you want to look, then just look...!" As if compelled to do just that, Vahn let his eyes wander to the pale blue lace panties Asfi was wearing, tied together by a string that looked like it would fall apart with just a light tug...

Pulling his eyes away from the tantalizing sight, Vahn rubbed the back of his head and said, "You can lower your skirt now...thanks for the treat...?" Though he wanted to apologize for making her do something that was obviously embarrassing for her, Vahn felt like Asfi would blame him even more if he did. Instead, he chose to do the opposite to see if it had a better effect and, to his pleasant surprise, Asfi nodded her head in a curt manner and said, "You're welcome." It was this small action that showcased that, not only did she have to listen to him if he gave her an order, but Asfi was perfectly willing to do 'more' as a result of the vows they had shared. She took her promises very seriously and, after already saying he could do whatever he wanted, Asfi would rather he be direct than roundabout on the matter...

Understanding that the other members of the Hermes Familia might also have similar mentalities, as they would undoubtedly try to appeal to him in their own way, Vahn felt a slight headache coming. He comforted his mind by reminding himself that he now had a cool beauty, who was also a Princess, as his fourth bride. Though he had already married one princess with similar features, Asfi was a unique beauty that had quite a few distinct features that set her apart from Riveria. Not only did she have uncommon aqua-blue hair, but she also had clear cyan-blue eyes, fair skin, a rather shapely figure, and a pair of white-rimmed glasses that made her appear even more intelligent.

Seeing Vahn 'appraise' her, Asfi felt a little flustered but, instead of shying away from his gaze, puffed out her chest slightly and nearly turned around so he could view her backside before he held up his hand and said, "I appreciate your willingness...haaa..." Vahn realized he would need to control himself around Asfi as, at least for the time being, she seemed a little 'too willing' to try and appeal to him. He didn't know that, as a result of her upbringing, the grievances she had suffered, and the constant stress of having to deal with Hermes' teasing, Asfi wasn't that accustomed to directly appealing to men. The only thing she could think of was to openly show that she was willing to do whatever was necessary, even though it made her heart race like she was staring down the maw of a dragon just as it was about to breathe fire...

After placing all of the duplicate contracts into a safe that only Hermes and she would be able to open, though Vahn could now tell her to open in for him, the two made their way to the large gathering hall located just under the first floor of the Traveler's Inn. With the exception of a few members who were out on missions, and Hermes himself, Pot and Elilly had gathered everyone together to announce the big news. Other than when the Guild wanted to conduct special missions in the past, nobody had ever purchased the entire Familia before so it was pretty big news, especially for the women in the Familia.

As Hermes was considered to be a renown womanizer, a total of 82 of the 117 members of the Familia were females of various different races. Because of their circumstances, they believe they might have a chance at getting in Vahn's good books and, instead of just a year of service, there was a chance they could 'win' in life and become one of the various girls within the Hearth Manor. Many of them were carefree girls who were hopelessly drawn to gambling, as a result of trying to buy their freedom, so there were quite a few of them that wanted to go 'all in' during the next year...

Of course, not all of the girls were thinking along these lines and there were a few, who had pushed the price of their 'services' into an extreme range, who were currently very nervous. Everyone was fully aware of the fact that, even if Vahn suddenly ordered them to choke themselves to death, they would be compelled to do so regardless of their thoughts on the matter. By that same logic, if he suddenly ordered every woman in the room to strip down and line themselves up, the girls who had done their best to hold onto their virginity would undoubtedly have to give it up to their new Owner...

One such girl, the leader of the Rearguard Supporter group, a young Human named Nelly, had a sad look in her eyes. She had been in the Hermes Familia since she was eight years old and, being seventeen currently, she was only a few months away from being able to end her contract. Though she would be saddled with a large debt, Nelly didn't mind working hard to make the payments since she would still be able to live the way she chose.

For the last nine years, she had done her best to avoid having to do any shameful acts and had tried to avoid drawing attention to herself. Now, depending on the whims of a boy she actually respected in the past, she would have no choice but to swallow her tears if he asked her to do shameful acts.

One thing that wasn't discussed openly was the fact that, if the person who purchased them decided to 'work' them, it wasn't impossible for them to end up in a brothel or servicing the friends and clients of their Owners. Just imagining this made Nelly feel like her heart was going to break...at least until she saw the object of her fear enter the room, carrying with him a warm aura and displaying a smile that felt like he could purify all the negativity in her heart...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Cassiopeia is a cuuuuuuuuuunt','Asfi is kind of cute...','Die Riajuu~!')

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Chapter 797: Clarification

Seeing the gathered members of the Hermes Familia, many of which looked like they were immediately about to jump out and begin questioning him, Vahn chose to make things clear by holding up his hand and saying, "Please, remain quiet for the time being and everything will be explained shortly..." With these words, the group suddenly found themselves unable to say anything and, with a few exceptions, most of those gathered realized that Vahn had already finalized the contracts. From this point, until the duration of a year had come to an end, this boy before them now controlled their life and death...

Though he had experience with such a phenomenon because of his ability to subordinate others, Vahn was still slightly awed by how a few words of his had silenced the entire room. He was even tempted, with a large number of girls present, to make them perform a pirouette together, just to see what it would look like. Fortunately, the more than twenty other males kept him from doing anything he might regret later so Vahn casually smiled towards them, confusing them greatly. When he saw one of them have an aura that flared up with pink, Vahn felt his brain dull slightly so he turned to address the larger group, saying, "As Pot and Elilly have likely already informed you, I have just purchased the entire Hermes Familia for the next year..."

Vahn left out the fact that he had purchased the complete contracts of some of them, but that was something he could bring up later on when he had a clear plan to resolve their matters. There were many amongst those gathered before him that he took a great deal of pity on and, though he couldn't personally liberate all of them, he would do his best to at least prepare them to purchase their own freedom in the future. For the time being, their services were required by the Alliance and, by the time his ownership was coming to an end, Vahn would outright give them the money to buy their freedom, if they desired it. The only reason he chose not to was that their contracts actually made them unable to accept bribes, gifts, or take out loans in order to purchase their freedom. There was nothing that prevented him from giving them a bonus while they were in his employ, however, so Vahn intended to exploit that little loophole for those that genuinely sought a better life for themselves...

Since he had everyone's attention, Vahn decided to use this moment to clarify some things and, seeing the 'fervent' look some of the girls were giving him, it was better he get it out of the way now. Though there were undoubtedly a few girls he was interested in, a part of him had already come to rely on Lili for such things and he would try to avoid a situation where he felt guilted into allowing them to position themselves at his side. If they wanted to be someone like Aisha, who was content only receiving his affections while leading her own life, that was one thing. He just wanted to avoid having numerous girls with a lot of emotional baggage entering into the Manor, especially since there were so many children running about, with even more on the way...

Though it made him feel a little guilty to see them almost immediately become melancholic, Vahn still hardened his heart and explained, "So as not to mislead any of you, know that it isn't my intention to have you do anything that would compromise your integrity, demean, shame, or defame you. It is entirely my intention to have you work in the capacity of your specialties, not exploit you for my own needs and whims. Though I cannot deny that there are those among you that I may favor in the future, I will always act in consideration of your character and background. By the time this year comes to an end, it is my intention to reward those who have worked hard with the freedom they desire...to this, I will solemnly swear, lest my blessing becomes a curse and my power be stripped from my body...!"

With his final words, golden chains emerged from the void and, for what felt like the hundredth time, Vahn had a vow imprinted on the surface of his soul. He knew he could void the vows if he truly wanted, as there was nothing within the records that could influence his soul directly, but that wasn't something he was willing to do. It might be something he exploits to get an advantage against his enemies in the future, but Vahn didn't want to become someone associated with breaking his promises, especially if he had treated them seriously enough to make a vow.

If not for the fact they were currently unable to speak, as Vahn had asked them to be quiet, many of the members of the Hermes Familia would have had a lot to say. Even so, there were a few that were communicating with small hand signs and signals, some keying in on the fact that Vahn had effectively admitted there were some in their ranks he might 'favor' in the future. Though their freedom was a tantalizing prospect, many of the members of the Hermes Familia were actually satisfied with the relative freedom they already had.

With few exceptions, they all had outgoing personalities, loved to gamble, and enjoyed living their lives to the fullest when possible. Though they certainly had to do some disreputable acts, it was still better than being an actual slave or prostitute. If they could manage to leave an impression on Vahn, someone who could just waltz in and purchase their entire Familia on a whim, they believed they would be able to live an unrestrained lifestyle in the future. It didn't really have to be said that Vahn was a handsome boy, but he was also the representative of the most powerful force in the world while also possessing the strongest individual might within the City. He was a 'jackpot' for any sensible woman who desired more out of life than the lot they had been given, especially those that had been born as expendable slaves...

Vahn was gauging the reactions of every member and made a mental note of who he would have to watch out for in the future. Though it was almost impossible to avoid them outright, as his petting habit had developed almost to the point of compulsion, but he could avoid any serious developments. An easy way was to simply guilt himself into remembering girls like Sylphia, Tina, and, to a lesser extent, girls like Rufina and, to a much lesser extent, Shakti. Though she would probably try to beat him to a pulp if she learned about it, Vahn decided to use Shakti as a 'shield' against girls he didn't directly take an interest in...(A/N: Wow, rude...)

While looking around, Vahn also set eyes on the people he was somewhat interested in and wanted to help out over the next year. There were Reid and Tallow, the Chienthrope and Pallum duo he had met in the past. Though they had caused a few problems for him, they were also victims of a rather traumatic event. Since he had children of his own, even though Tallow wasn't a child, Vahn had a soft spot for Pallums. He could still remember her tear-stained face as she desperately tried to protect Reid, even when she was almost completely naked...

Other than the duo he had already met, Vahn would help Elilly overcome her self-conscious mentality, as it was somewhat cruel that she was judged for something she had no control over. Her liberation clause was also something he could resolve relatively easily, as it pertained to one of the well-known slave breeders back in the Iron Hills. Vahn would seek a reckoning from them in the future and, as long as the man was still alive, he didn't mind leaving the cur for Elilly to deal with...

As for her counterpart, not that they were actually a duo, Vahn decided he would help Pot buy her freedom in the future. He couldn't really give her a bunch of children, as he already had more than his fair share of problems dealing with his own Pallum lover, but it wouldn't be difficult to potentially find her a spouse. Since her brother, Pock, aspired to be strong like Finn, and they would both be acting within the scope of the Loki Familia in the future, Vahn figured Finn might actually take a liking to her personally. Finn now had five children of his own, even though he had only gotten two of his lovers pregnant, but it wasn't as though he was too old to add more girls to the rather 'fierce' group surrounding him. As long as they took a liking to Pot, it ultimately may not even be up to Finn if he wanted to accept her...

Other persons of interest were another Pallum, Meryl Tear, an adorable girl with fluffy purple hair, blue eyes, and clothes that identified her as a rare Pallum Mage. There was also her mute protector, a man by the name of Dodon who had been tortured and exiled by his tribe, now wearing clothes that completely covered his body. His liberation clause, instead of revenge against his tribe, was actually to free Meryl by making her own dream come true. Since she had a rare talent as a Mage, it was her dream to become someone like Riveria, who could inspire her entire race to great aspirations...

Wrapping up the people he was interested in, though almost everyone before him had troubled pasts that qualified them for happier lives, was a peculiar Chienthrope named Lulune Louie. She was the first Chienthrope Vahn had ever seen who had light brown ears coming out of the side of her head instead of the top. Though this alone wasn't that peculiar, it was the fact that her shaggy hair was black, contrasting the color of her ears completely. At the same time, she had bronzed skin, golden eyes, and was garbed in the attire of a Thief with red shorts with, matching red boots, a red jacket, and a crimson scarf. Completing her outfit, she also wore black gloves, a black belt and a black shirt beneath her jacket. All of these things, including her long and shaggy brown tail, were enough to make her stand out greatly. However, the thing that truly caught Vahn's attention, though her file didn't mention anything about it, was the fact that Lulune was a demigoddess...

Seeing Vahn looking towards her, Lulune felt like an electrical current ran through her body, causing her tail and ears to perk up as she tried to hide behind the nearby Dodon. She didn't mind if Vahn wanted to do anything to her, in fact, she was somewhat hopeful for the chance. However, something about his gaze made her heart flutter in a different way than she expected, almost like he had suddenly become very interested in her all of a sudden. She hoped that, at the very least, he didn't want to make her do something embarrassing in front of everyone else...!

Noticing Lulune's strange reaction, Vahn resisted the urge to produce a wry smile and said, "I can assure you that you won't be forced to do anything too dangerous, but know that you also will be at the behest of Loki for the next year. I paid twice the amount for joint-ownership and she will be the person directing you in most circumstances. At the same time, however, both of us will be working to help fulfill your liberation clauses so please don't mistake the situation and think I'm trying to abandon any of you. As I'm sure many of you are aware, I'm proactively trying to avoid a situation where I arbitrarily accept women into my life, even if many of you are very beautiful. Please, consider your happiness in a setting that doesn't include trying to use the Alliance as a means to elevate your status and give you an easy life. Just like the girls that currently reside in the Manor, you need to be willing to work hard for your dreams if you want to become happy. Even the youngest person in the Manor, Tina, only thirteen years old, has managed to reach Level 5...please keep that in mind..."

Since they couldn't disclose the information he releases to them, Vahn didn't mind elevating Tina's status a bit while also making his point clear to everyone gathered. As expected, his words shocked most of the Hermes Familia members to the core, including Asfi herself. She was only around the middle of Level 4, even though she was twenty-two, so it was a big impact to hear that a thirteen-year-old girl was Level 5. Though it wasn't unheard of, as Tiona, Tione, and Ais had all achieved the feat, they were considered exceptions, not the standard...

Pot, having previously associated with Vahn, had enough confidence to raise her hand like a child wanting to ask a question. Vahn nodded toward her, allowing her to excitedly ask, "This Tina girl, what race is she? Will you help us become stronger too~!?" Vahn furrowed his brows slightly when he heard Pot ask about Tina's race but, considering that she was a Pallum, it wasn't that surprising that she was curious. Without concealing the matter, Vahn clearly stated, "Tina is a Cat Person who started training around two years ago. Like the other girls in the Manor, she has worked hard to become strong in an incredibly short period of time. As for each of you, it will ultimately depend on the efforts you make, your character, and the level of trust I can confidently place in you. By the end of this year, the majority of you will likely have earned your freedom, but only a handful of you would be privy to extra benefits within the Alliance. I have always tried to reward hard work and merits directly. Don't expect me to simply help you increase your power if you intend to use it to exploit others or selfishly pursue your own interests..."

Pulling out a scroll, Vahn tossed it to the surprised Elilly and said, "Since I've already seen that Elilly's character is commendable, I have no problem giving her a reward that she would greatly appreciate. That scroll details a special technique that, if you practice seriously, will allow you to slowly shape your body however you like. Even if you wanted to be the size of a Pallum, though it would take several years of effort, it wouldn't be impossible." Though she had been confused at why Vahn would suddenly give her a scroll, Elilly's eyes became rounded like saucers when she heard his explanation. The scroll in her hands suddenly felt like it was made of fragile glass that also weighed a thousand kilograms...

Seeing how happy Elilly was after her shock had faded, Vahn produced a genuine smile and explained, "It's actually thanks to Elilly that I had decided to purchase the Hermes Familia today. If possible, please extend your kindness and gratitude towards her in the future. At the same time, you can bear witness to her transformation and decide for yourselves what kind of future you want to pursue. Those that are willing to work hard, I promise that you will have my support, even after you have earned your freedom. The Alliance could always benefit from having capable people within its ranks and, even if you don't wish to join a Familia, there are a variety of positions within the Civilian Sector that you could fill."

Elilly felt like Vahn was trying to give her a heart attack, saying and doing so many surprising things that impacted her heart and mind like a hammer. She even began to wonder if, by some strange machination of fate, Vahn had come to like her. Though it didn't seem possible, the kind smile he showed, combined with his supportive words and gestures, made Elilly suddenly feel like a bashful maiden once again. She was one of the older members of the Hermes Familia, with no real intention of ever leaving it in the future, but that might very well change now. Even if he didn't currently like her, Elilly felt like the scroll in her hands could become the key to unlocking Vahn's heart and finding a place for herself within...

Watching Elilly's aura suddenly flare up, as a resolute light began burning in her eyes, Vahn felt a cold sweat on his back but didn't break his smile. Instead, he considered if there was anything else he needed to say right now and, believing he had said more than enough for them to mull over for the rest of the day, decided to wrap things up by saying, "For now, don't take any missions and just talk amongst yourselves about these new developments. Try to contact those that are currently on missions and inform them of the changes and I'll try to give you a more concrete idea of what you should expect in a few days. The Traveler's Inn is included in the provisions for purchasing the Familia, so you can stay here for the time being. Loki may stop by to discuss things with you and, unless you feel as though your life is maliciously endangered by her orders, you will listen to her."

With his final words, Vahn dismissed everyone but, before she could go too far, he called out to Lulune, causing the girl's tail and ears to go rigid. Though this type of action was very adorable, to the point he had an urge to pet her into oblivion, Vahn controlled himself and went into a side room with the nervous Chienthrope and Asfi. The moment he closed the door behind them, Vahn was surprised when Lulune suddenly said, "I never thought I would ever have to do it with the Captain in the same room...haaaa, today is such a strange day!"

Before her words had even finished, Lulune had deftly removed her red jacket and had started to lift her black shirt, which had only covered the upper half of her torso. Like many of the Beast People he had met, Lulune wore a shirt that exposed her stomach and her shorts weren't much longer than the length of a hand. This not only made it easy for her to move around, but the clothes themselves could be removed in a very short period of time. As a result, Lulune had already lifted her shirt, revealing the fact that she hadn't even been wearing a bra.

Though he was briefly distracted by her slightly pale pink rosebuds, which stood out against the backdrop of her bronzed skin, Vahn quickly said, "Lulune, that isn't why I called you into this room. Please, wear your..." Just as Vahn was going to tell Lulune to wear her clothing, he remembered that he did actually want to check her Status Board. As a demigoddess, she should have at least three Innates and he was more than a little curious to see what they were. This hesitation resulted in the strange situation where Lulune, with her arms above her head in mid-motion of removing her shirt, was staring at him with a confused expression.

Resisting the urge to sight, Vahn clarified, "You can remove your shirt, but please don't misunderstand that I'm intending to do anything uncouth towards you. I actually have the ability to check the Status of others and, though you may not be aware of it yourself, there are a few unique things about your heritage that I can confirm by checking your status. When I'm finished, you can put your clothes back on without worrying that I'm going to ask you to do anything selfishly..."

While he was speaking, Lulune had already finished removing her shirt and, once he was done, immediately said, "You're too serious, Vahn. If you want to fuck, I don't really mind it, you know? You seem like a good guy, much better than some of the ones I've met. You don't need to make excuses if you want to see my body." As if to emphasize this, Lulune brought her arms together and squeezed her almost nonexistent breasts together. She didn't seem to believe his words at all and, as he hadn't formed them as an 'order', Lulune genuinely believed he was just pussyfooting around the matter.

Realizing this, Vahn released a genuine sigh this time and said, "Asfi, pull over a chair for Lulune to sit down on. Lulune, turn around with your back facing me so I can check your Status. For the time being, please remain quiet and see for yourself the truth of the situation." Unable to refuse his words, Lulune remained quiet and sat down in the chair that Asfi had provided. She felt a little awkward and hoped she didn't offend him, especially when a magical light shone from her backside as Vahn traced his finger along her spine, sending a shiver through her body at the same time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Stats]]

Name: Lulune Louie

Age: 18

Race: Chienthrope, God(sealed)

Level: 3

POW: E472

END: D529

DEX: C644

AGI: C637

MAG: H148

Skills: [Thief God's Blessing:Innate:H], [Pickpocket:A], [Featherfoot:B], [Silent Strike:B], [Double Thrust:D]

Magic: [Reaper's Death Gaze:Innate:(sealed)], [Red Owl:F]

Development Abilities: [Noctourne's Avatar:Innate:(sealed)], [Abnormal Resistance:C], [Escape:D]

[Silent Strike]

Rank: B

Use: Allows the user to strike without generating any discernable sounds.

[Double Thrust]

Rank:D

Use: Allows the user to issue forth two strikes in a very short period of time.

[Red Owl]

Rank: F

Use: Controls red shifting to not only obscure the user but make it difficult for opponents to discern distance and attack trajectories.

Chant: Bloody Baron~!

[Escape]

Rank:D

Use: Allows the user to greatly increase their speed when running away from danger.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Everyone wants to hit the Jackpot (O,...,O)~!','Dodon, stay strong friend...','Lulune is a bit of a ditz...?')

https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)

paypal.me/Einlion

Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh


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